Illegal Fireworks Shows (Rant)

[Shutterbug]

Problem this year is that many cities have cancelled their fireworks shows, so the local firework places have been selling tons of them.

Here in Ohio it is illegal to launch them but NOT illegal to purchases them.
You have to sign a waiver that you are going to be transporting them directly out of the state. I doubt those forms are ever verified.

I really hope its not bad cause I have to be up at 5am tomorrow.

 

[Piglet4Ever]

I live in a city where it's illegal (except for the big permitted show), and there's a nasty fine for the first time. If I knew someone setting them off, I'd call the cops and the city would get some money. It drives me batty when random people are setting off random things for hours.

However, I live a 5 minute drive from tribal land that has a HUGE casino, and they set off fireworks nearly every night leading up to the 4th. So noisy. So annoying. And, dagnabit, legal over there across the waterway.

Though I do have to admit it's kinda fun watching their BIG fireworks on the 4th...from our balcony. If only we could watch the city's from the balcony, but there's a bend in the Sound and the land abutting it, and other buildings block our view entirely. sigh.

We live close to a Tribal casino as well, and they set up a fireworks mall there. It gets so packed with cars it's hard to get through that area. The neighborhood fireworks started here in ernest about a week ago and I have had more than enough.

 

[gshanny]

One thing that is going to be more of an issue with so many service men and women serving overseas is PTSD. I have a friend and her DH has it and they have to leave town and go to a relative's house. Unfortunately they are sold and shot off before they can go and life is rough. Kind of ironic we are celebrating our country's freedom and the people keeping that freedom for us are the ones suffering from the weeks of fireworks being set off illegally. I like fireworks too, but at least keep them to the 4th.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I dont see the big deal. cops are not going to actually arrest anyone. and you are wasting their time for real calls by calling them in.

This assumes they are not shooting them at your house or anything.

Outside of that, just enjoy the show!

It is a big deal. See below....

The big deal is that by calling the cops (who have arrested and fined many people I know) you may be sparing them or a bystander from being burned, maimed or other wise wounded by fire, explosions etc.

When I worked in tv news, we would spend EVERY July 5th covering the numerous maimings from fireworks. That and the deaths from drunk driving/boating.

Also, the big deal is that the noise from them can be a problem for some children (my sister was TERRIFIED of them as a child.) and pets. The shrapnel/fallout from the fireworks creates a littler nuisance for the neighbors property it lands on, AND fireworks have caused fires, especially when it's dry out.

I'm hearing the fireworks as I type. We live in a very populated area, so they are coming from all directions. It is *extremely dry* here. We haven't had rain in ages and the grass is brown. All it'll take is one wayward spark to start a fire.

 

[aprilgail2]

I dont see the big deal. cops are not going to actually arrest anyone. and you are wasting their time for real calls by calling them in.

This assumes they are not shooting them at your house or anything.

Outside of that, just enjoy the show!

Yea I feel the same way- I don't care if my neighbors are shooting off anything- I would hope that by midnight they would stop but it they don't so be it- its only one or two nights.....My dog flips out but I had the vet give me tranquilizers for him so we just drug him while they are shooting off fireworks.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

I don't mind having the neighbors set them off, we do some ourselves... but I live in a desert, everything here is bone dry. If it's not watered it's dead.

Our city has an ordinance that prohibits aerial type fireworks. Yesterday I was home for lunch and heard firecrackers and stuff being set off. I looked out the window and at the neighbor's house there were a couple of kids that looked to be about 8 -10 years old, unsupervised, shooting off bottle rockets (illegal). So there is about an acre of dead grass (used to be horse pasture) and a huge line of juniper trees between us and the neighbors. The trees are watered but juniper's here will go up in a flash. So the wind's blowing toward my house and the neighbor's across the street (all the trees are between us). I almost called the local PD, only problem is it's at the chief of police's house great... just great

Going to be an interesting weekend

 

[starrzone]

I'm as patriotic as the next guy, but I really hate the 4th of July (and the week before/after). The reason are the annoying, and mostly illegal, fireworks that thoughtless individuals think are so much fun to set off. For clarification, illegal in this case not only refers to firecrackers (bad) but also any others that are set off in a town that has a no fireworks ordinance.

Not only are they annoying, but they disrupt the evening, especially when people are trying to sleep, not to mention the aggravation it causes the dogs in the neighborhood (yes, I'm a dog person).

It used to be that we would take those few days to go camping in the national forest, away from any fireworks stands. Unfortunately, due to job changes, that's not an option at the current time.

I will politely ask people to knock it off. If that doesn't work, I tell them to knock it off, reminding them they are breaking the law. Last resort is to toss civility out the window and just call the cops, then watch the show from my porch.

Personally, they should just outlaw the 'roadside' stands, and let fireworks be presented in a show.

I live in a well-off, quiet, treed, by the river, suburb outside of a medium-sized city. To my knowledge, fireworks are legal here, but what I do NOT like is people who set them off after dark (which is when they have the most effect, I suppose). The houses here are quite close together, and these fireworks are LOUD and sound like gunshots. It's the lack of respect that annoys me, not so much the foreworks themselves, KWIM?

 

[ICF]

idiots near our neighborhood started shooting them off....I hope one of them loses an arm!!

 

[locolala]

One thing that is going to be more of an issue with so many service men and women serving overseas is PTSD. I have a friend and her DH has it and they have to leave town and go to a relative's house. Unfortunately they are sold and shot off before they can go and life is rough. Kind of ironic we are celebrating our country's freedom and the people keeping that freedom for us are the ones suffering from the weeks of fireworks being set off illegally. I like fireworks too, but at least keep them to the 4th.

This is something I'm dealing with right now. I can't take my antianxiety meds and conk out since I'm pregnant, and things like Benedryl aren't gonna make me tired enough to ignore the fireworks. Last year I was able to just dope myself up and crash, but I can't now and I really don't know how much more of this I can take. I might end up having to get a hotel room for the night so I can not be a nervous wreck.

 

[Val]

I am sitting out on the deck with the laptop and all i can hear is fireworks.....and they are illegal around here. My 2 hearing dogs are in the house under the desk with DH, scared to death. Only our deaf pup is outside with me, and even she is responding to some of the deeper booms.

Turned on the police scanner (online) and boy, do our city/county police have their hands full. When the dispatcher asked one officer where he could see the fireworks coming from he replied I can't tell....better question might be where they are NOT coming from.

We had an extremely wet June, but the last week has been hot and dry. IT really is surprising dry here...and again, I hate to be a party pooper, but dry woods/grass and illegal fireworks are an accidental fire waiting to happen.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Legal here. I was out watching the show. I also went to the fireworks stand that is about 1 min or less from my house and bought some fountains.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I hate them!!!!

I find the trash in my yard and wonder what would have happened if someone's "fun" landed where it could start a fire.

We were walking back from the river watching the city fireworks from a very comfortable distance. On the way back, some jerk in one if the neighborhoods thought it would be fun to hand hold a roman candle and aim it in the vicinity of where we were walking. I could have killed him. I had 3 children--1 was a newborn. I so wish I had called the cops b/c his actions were quite obvious not to mention dangerous.

I have no idea how this illegal nonsense remains legal. I've heard about the lame waivers--but really, who are they kidding?

 

[ZeitgeistDuck]

idiots near our neighborhood started shooting them off....I hope one of them loses an arm!!

Nice! Do you always go around wishing harm on people who like sparkly lights and colors? Its one thing not to like them, its another to hope someone gets harmed. What's next: "she posted something I didn't like on the Dis, I hope her fingers fall off?"

I think a lot of you are being whiny mcwhinersons. I definitely see the point of the poster that lost the solar cover and for people who are worried about the dangers of off-the-ground fireworks, but those who are all hyped up about their dogs being upset? That is absurd, expecting people to tiptoe around your dog's nervous sensibilities.

Our neighbor went ape on some kids down the street last 4th over their fireworks. They were setting off fire crackers and fountains, all legal. She was screaming about her dog getting upset and I was thinking really? you expect people to stop what they are doing because of your snowflake dog's feelings? Seriously? Anyway, now she's know as crazy neighbor.

 

[plutotek]

Legal here. I was out watching the show. I also went to the fireworks stand that is about 1 min or less from my house and bought some fountains.

Ah, the old fashioned fountains. Other than the whistling/piccolo petes, those never really bothered me. Just the loud, obnoxious, aerial exploding ones annoy me.

 

[plutotek]

Nice! Do you always go around wishing harm on people who like sparkly lights and colors? Its one thing not to like them, its another to hope someone gets harmed. What's next: "she posted something I didn't like on the Dis, I hope her fingers fall off?"

I think a lot of you are being whiny mcwhinersons. I definitely see the point of the poster that lost the solar cover and for people who are worried about the dangers of off-the-ground fireworks, but those who are all hyped up about their dogs being upset? That is absurd, expecting people to tiptoe around your dog's nervous sensibilities.

Our neighbor went ape on some kids down the street last 4th over their fireworks. They were setting off fire crackers and fountains, all legal. She was screaming about her dog getting upset and I was thinking really? you expect people to stop what they are doing because of your snowflake dog's feelings? Seriously? Anyway, now she's know as crazy neighbor.

I'd rather be known as the crazy or mean neighbor than the inconsiderate one.

 

[ZeitgeistDuck]

I'd rather be known as the crazy or mean neighbor than the inconsiderate one.

I thought the crazy neighbor was pretty inconsiderate- complaining about traditional forth of july fireworks because she's too snowflaky to realize she should just suck it up for one week a year. See? Considerate goes both ways.

 

[plutotek]

I thought the crazy neighbor was pretty inconsiderate- complaining about traditional forth of july fireworks because she's too snowflaky to realize she should just suck it up for one week a year. See? Considerate goes both ways.

Hmm, will have to think about that....after I figure out how the 4th of July turned into a week long holiday that permitted rude, inconsiderate and/or illegal behavior to be inflicted on everyone around them.

 

[ZachnElli]

I guess I'm the odd man out in that I like the sound of firecrackers surrounding the 4th. It's sort of like Christmas music around Christmas time - a reminder of the holiday to come. When I start to hear the firecrackers going off, I start thinking about fun times with family, BBQ's, the small town parade back where I grew up, watermelon eating contests. It only goes on for a few days

I'm with you. Some are legal in my state and can be bought here. In the city limits they are illegal, but since the city has not annexed our neighborhood, still legal in my neighborhood! We've only done snaps, snakes, smoke bombs and a couple of firecrackers, we've just been watching our neighbors light up the skys. Tomorrow we'll be heading out to see the big show for the last time at Rosenblatt.

 

[bicker]

NY man blows off arm with firecrackers

On Saturday, a man lighting fireworks outside his Long Island home became the latest victim when he completely severed his left arm from his shoulder, Suffolk County police said.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/07/04/new.york.fireworks.arm.loss/

 

[Jennasis]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/07/04/new.york.fireworks.arm.loss/

No surprise there.